Ladder.



J. W. CALDWELL.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 1.

FIG. 5

[Tu enter.

mu :w. a. GRAHAM co. PNOTO-UTHDGRAP J. W. CALDWELL.

LADDER.

' APPLIOATION Hum APR. 29, 1908.

938,638, Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETB-SHEET 2.

il 5?? Ira min r. .4%!

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WM. CALDWELL, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

LADDER.

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN WVILLIAM CALD- 'ELL, a British subject,residing in the city f Toronto, in the county of York and Provnce ofOntario, Canada, have invented cerain new and useful Improvements inLaders; and I hereby declare that the followig is a full, clear, andexact description of 1e same.

This invention relates to a ladder consist- 1g of two or more sectionsin which the ide bars of one section are hinged to the ide bars of theadjacent section or sections, )tllflt the sections can be moved into anexnded position and securely coupled toether or moved into a. foldedposition and ayed by unlocking the coupling members ut withoutdisconnecting the hinge memers, and it further relates to the peculiaronstruction of the means by which the lader sections are hinged andcoupled together 'llCl means consisting of multiple sets of inge membersprovided with hinge knuckles nd pins, and a corresponding number of tsof coupling members coacting with the inge members and provided withcoupling nuckles and pins, as hereinafter set forth nd particularlypointed out in the claim.

For an understanding of the invention ference is to be had to thefollowing de- :ription and to the accompanying drawings 1 which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the lader consisting of three laddersections conected together by hinge and coupling memrs showing theladder sections in their 'tended position. Fig. 2, is a perspective iewof the ladder shown in Fig. 1, with the dder sections folded. Fig. 3, isan enrged perspective View of one set of the mbined hinge and couplingmembers with 1e parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. ig. 4, is asimilar View to Fig. 3, with the arts in the position shown in Fig. 2.Fig.

is a view of a modificationof the con- .ruction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5,is a view a staple which may be used as a substiite for the coupling pinshown in Figs. 3

Like characters of reference refer to like irts throughout thespecification and draw- The ladder may be described as consisting twoladder sections a a, each ladder secon consisting of a palr of side barsI) and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 29, 1908.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Serial No. 429,946.

a set of steps 0. Secured to the back of each side bar at the top of theladder section a is a-hinge member (Z having a hinge knuckle e, andsecured to the back of each side bar at the adjacent end of the laddersection a is a hinge member f having hinge knuc les g. The hingeknuckles e register with the hinge knuckles g and receive the hinge pinsit by which the hinge members connect the sections a a together. Securedto the side faces of the side bars Z) near the top of the ladder sectiona, are coupling members 2' having coupling knuckles y', and secured tothe side faces of the side bars near the adjacent end of the laddersection a are coupling members 7:: having coupling knuckles Z whichregister in the spaces between the coupling knuckles and receive thecoupling pins m.

The adjacent ends of the ladder sections are jointed to butt closelytogether when in the position shown in Fig. 1, and when they are in thatposition the knuckles j and Z register with each other and receive thecoupling pins m, which look them together and securely hold the laddersections in their extended position. To move the ladder sections fromthe position shown in Fig. 1, to that shown in Fig. 2, it is onlynecessary to withdraw the coupling pins m from the coupling knuckles jand Z and when that is done the ladder section a can be turned upon thehinge pins 71, and folded into the position shown in Fig. 2, and stayedby a chain 9 or other device of a like character.

As shown in the drawings the coupling members i and is are secured tothe outer surfaces of the side bars but these coupling members may asconveniently be connected to the inner surfaces in some styles ofladders without affecting the operation of the parts. The ladder shownin the accompanying drawings consists only of three ladder sections butit may consist of two or more than two ladder sections, and the wordsmultiple sections, used in the claim will therefore be construed to meantwo or more than two ladder sections. To increase the holding power ofthe coupling members each coupling member is preferably provided withtwo sets of coupling knuckles. The coupling knuckles of one couplingmember register with the coupling knuckles of the other coupling memberand are locked together by coupling pins, or by the staple as shown inFig. 5, which may be used in lieu of the pins. When the ladder is ofcomparatively considerable length it is preferable to use the couplingmembers With the double set of coupling knuckles and fasten themtogether by a double set of coupling pins or staples. The knuckles Zdescribe a circle, the center of which is the center of the hinge pin h,and in order that the knuckles Z and j may fit tightly together they areeach formed with curved faces the curvatures of which are described fromthe center of the hinge pin 72,. Hinged to the top step 0 of the sectiona is a platform 0 which can hang in an inclined position when thesections are extended and Which can be raised into a substantiallyhorizontal position when the sections are folded, the platform, When inthis last mentioned position, resting upon the top step of the section aby which it is supported, as the ladder sections move between thepositions shown in Figs. 1 and 4E.

Having thus fully described my invention What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is A ladder comprising several laddersections, two hinge members secured to the side bars of each laddersection, on the same side thereof, hinge pins connecting the hingemembers together so that the ladder sections can be moved into anextended, or into a folded, position, tWo hinge like coupling members,for each ladder section angularly disposed to the hinge members andconnected to the side bars on the sides adjoining those to Which thehinge members are secured, and a removable means fastening together thecoupling members of the adjacent ladder sections When the latter are inan extended position.

Toronto, April 14th, 1908.

JOHN WM. CALDlVELL.

Signed in the presence of- G. H. RioHEs, H. L. TRIMBLE.

